Davido Defends Wearing Abducted Pupils’ Pins at World Cup Event

Afrobeats superstar Davido on Sunday, July 5, 2026, defended his decision to wear pins and ribbons representing the abducted pupils and teachers from Oyo State at a 2026 FIFA World Cup event in the United States, saying the safety of Nigerian children was more important than managing the country’s international image.

Davido, who performed at a World Cup-related event on the sidelines of the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was photographed and filmed wearing pins symbolising the Oyo abduction victims at the event. The gesture generated immediate reaction in Nigeria, with some supporters praising him for using his global platform to keep the crisis visible while a small number of critics argued that he was airing Nigeria’s problems on an international stage.

Davido Fires Back at Critics

The Grammy-nominated artist pushed back firmly against the criticism, telling followers on social media that no image concern should take priority over the lives of children who had been held in captivity for nearly eight weeks. He said he would continue to speak about the abduction until every victim was safely returned to their family.

The incident drew comparisons to other moments when Nigerian artists used global platforms to highlight domestic governance and security failures. Former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha and several Nollywood personalities praised Davido’s gesture, saying artists with international reach had an obligation to amplify crises that risk fading from news cycles while victims remained in danger.

Abduction Enters Week Eight

The Oyo school abduction entered its eighth week on Tuesday with the 49 victims, including pupils as young as two and seven teachers, still held in the Old Oyo National Park area. Security sources said the deadlock remained tied to the kidnappers’ demand for the release of top Ansaru commanders Mahmud Muhammad Usman and his deputy. The Oyo State Government’s 16-hour daily curfew across 10 local government areas remained in force. Consequently, Davido’s international advocacy added fresh global attention to a crisis the government had yet to resolve.